By Ola Kay
WHO- The World Health Organisation has revealed that food items exposed to temperatures above 5 °C (41 °F) for over two hours can become unsafe to eat. In
The global health body gave this warning in a series of messages posted on X.com in commemoration of the 2024 World Food Safety Day themed on Friday. The theme of this year’s commemoration is ‘Food safety: prepare for the unexpected’.
The World Food Safety Day celebrated annually on June 7 was established by the United Nations General Assembly task force in 2018 to educate and encourage efforts to prevent, detect and address public health risks linked to unsafe food.
A statement by WHO cautioned that: “If there has been a power outage in your area, refrigerated or frozen food may not be safe to eat. Products can become unsafe if they have been exposed to temperatures above 5 °C for more than two hours.
“After four hours of a power cut, the following apply: Throw out all perishable foods in your fridge, such as meat, poultry, fish, and leftovers.“Throw out all items in your freezer once they have thawed or cook them immediately, if they have been exposed to ambient temperature for more than two hours. Never eat food to determine if it is safe. If in doubt, throw it away.”
It says residents in areas prone to power outages, should maintain a supply of pre-packaged, ready-to-eat, and canned foods, as well as bottled water.
The WHO concluded by advising this: “In case you live in areas prone to power outages, always keep a stock of pre-packaged, ready to eat and canned food, as well as bottled water for an emergency situation. Undamaged canned goods and commercial glass jars of food are likely to be safe.
“However, if possible, containers should be sanitised before opening them for use. Discard canned foods with broken seams, serious dents, or leaks; and jars with.”
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